Been a long time coming, dear wurst-reader. The better-half and I bought 12” MacBooks–the ones with the funky keyboard–in 2016/17 respectively. Although the 2017 device served me well for a few years, as is always the case with Apple krapp, the time inevitably arrives where one bites the bullet and opens the wallet anew. On the good side, though, compared to Windows machines, Macs can forcibly last a long time. I was able to use a 2010 MacBook Pro for almost eight years. But then again. Take my money bi-otch.
As usual, I put off upgrading my MacBook for as long as possible–stretching it and stretching it. For you see, dear wurst-reader, my MacBook had the i5 intel processor and the512GB SSD. My wife’s had the i3 intel and the 256GB SSD. The difference between the two? The i5/512 SSD was significantly faster and hence more compatible with the (its, shorter than what I was hoping for) future. My wife’s i3 MacBook couldn’t go past MacOS Ventura but after even three years of use was practically un-useable. Like I wurst-said, though, mine made it all the way to Sonoma and I got four, four and half years out of it. Nomatter. Time to move on.
When Apple introduced its new M-chips, I fought long and hard to keep my tiny, almost perfect form-factor 12” MacBook, including its obsolete Intel chip, running. As cumbersome as the keyboard was, as limited as the single USB-C port was, that fcuking minimalist design and “Retina” display was, other than hand-me-down iPads I got from my wife, my main driver. I loved that MacBook and did a whole bunch of wurst-writing with it, among other things. And so. In this world of monopolies galore, where we must consume-and-survive, I soldiered on. Enter all-things wurst-new.
My first foray into Apple’s M-chips was when I knew about two years ago that my MacBook was on its last days–according to Apple’s forced obsoletism. And after using an iPad here and there, and also knowing that new M-chips MacBooks are on the way, I jumped at the offer from my better-half to get the new iPad Air 5, which had the new M1 chip in it. Long story short. That little friggin iPad replaced my MacBook with ease. I could even connect a external monitor where after a few system updates I was able to use the iPad just like my MacBook, including an external bluetooth keyboard and Magic Mouse. Can an iPad replace a MacBook? Ulimately, for me, at this time, no. Will this new MacBook Air M3 be my last MacBook? It just might be. But let me move on from the iPad stuff.
The best part of the 12” MacBook, when I bought it, was its size. As a travel device it was, at the time, perfect. Was it as good as an iPad? Two years ago I couldn’t answer that cause I had no real world experience with iPads. At the least, with the 12” MacBook, rude passengers putting their economy seat all the way back was no big deal. A laptop any bigger just doesn’t work in economy seating on airplanes–unless the person in front of you never reclines their seat. If only Apple would/could be regulated to, at the least, lighten up on their forced obsoletism… Anywho. I’m rambling. Moving on.
When my new 13” MacBook Air with 16GB RAM and a 512GB SSD arrived about two weeks ago, the first thing I noticed was I wouldn’t be using it in economy class–it’s that much bigger than the 12”. On the other hand, my better half and I rarely fly anymore–as we’ve turned to van-life and driving around Europe in VW Camper Van (Bulli). That said. This new MacBook Air with M3 chip is the bomb. Not only is it screaming fast but the size difference compared to the 12” is unmeasurable. There’s simply no comparison. Plus. I don’t have to concentrate anymore when typing–the keyboard is so much better than those mis-directed butterfly keys on the 12”.
Although I don’t really pay much attention anymore to the newest and the shiniest, right after I ordered my new MacBook Air M3, Apple introduced new M4 MacBook Pros for the holidays. Luckily new MacBook Airs with M4 won’t arrive till next year–so I’m safe with the timing of my purchase. The only thing that does bother me, though, is the idear that Apple is now no longer selling M3 MacBook Airs with 8GB ram. Can you believe it!!! Apple has finally heard the call. 8GB is/was an f’n joke–not to mention the 256GB SSD. They’ve now bumped up the Airs to 16GB RAM as standard but I think they’re still including a 256GB SSD. The real bomb is the 16GB devices are the same price as the 8GB–which means, if I had waited a bit longer, I could have gotten 24GB RAM for the price I paid for the 16GB. So goes the rat race, eh.
In conclusion.
The M3 MacBook Air is waaaaaaay too much computer for me. And man oh man do I love it. The screen is amazing, the keyboard makes me realise what I was missing all those years with butterfly keys and the new chassis fits my world better than the wedge version of the previous Airs. Having MagSafe charging and two USB-C ports is fine for my needs as I use one port for an external monitor and the other for reading/writing micro sd cards when fiddling with all the Raspberry Pis I use in my home. The only question is, when will obsoletism set-in anew?
Rant on.
-T
wurstwriter 